Paz came into existence in 1972, having formerly been known as The Dick Crouch Band featuring Lol Coxhill.

Essentially a London-based band with a mixture of pro and semi-pro musicians, they moved among the blurred boundaries inhabited by Latin jazz, fusion, soft rock and jazz depending on what they were playing in the moment. Performing a number of London residencies over the years, they built a loyal metropolitan audience base with occasional forays into the provinces.

They made some 14 albums, but none of that material is included in this three-disc compilation, which draws on an archive of tapes of previously unissued material acquired from various sources. It is a valuable compilation of one of the lesser known bands that would come under the heading ‘Talent Deserving Wider Recognition’.

Sound quality is variable, but by no means awful, the music at times derivative, but all is played with an élan and enthusiasm that can be contagious – the gig money was not great, but the stalwarts the band attracted over the years did it for pleasure and there are many tracks where the enjoyment of the participants is palpable.